Macau to get underwater casino complex
Monday, 23 May 2005 13:40
The casino will be surrounded by marine life
Only weeks after the world's first all-glass undersea restaurant opened in the Maldives, plans are afoot to build an underwater casino complex in China.
An underwater casino hall "surrounded by water and marine life" is being planned for the casino hotspot of Macau.
Up to 450 gaming tables and 3,000 slot machines are planned for the casino hall, which will feature as part of the £545 million 'City of Dreams' complex.
This will comprise 2,000 hotel rooms, a shopping mall and a 4,000 seat-performance hall, according to developer Melco International Development Ltd, which already operates 500 gaming machines in Macau.
The complex will be located on Macau's Cotai strip, which is being fashioned as Macau's answer to Las Vegas.
Construction is due to start at the end of this year, and the resort is targeted for completion in 2008.
Macau is a former Portuguese colony situated just an hour's boat ride from Hong Kong.
It has two bridges connecting it to Taipa Island, which in turn is joined to Chinese mainland by the new Lotus Flower Bridge.
The region is becoming increasingly popular with tourists, attracting some 16.7 million visitors last year.
For more information on Macau see the
Macau tourism website.